Lin Feng sighed, looking at the strange trio outside the door, and invited them into his home.
He didn't offer them tea. The leaves of the Life Tree were not precious enough for Lin Feng to treat them with such a treasure.
Lin Feng simply took out a bottle of mineral water and threw it to Natasha.
That's right, only Natasha received it. This was a privilege for beauties!
Natasha, who took the water, rolled her eyes at Lin Feng, as if accusing him of what happened last time.
The group sat down, and the one-eyed Nick Fury stared intently at Lin Feng, creating a tense atmosphere.
"Your actions last night have caused a significant impact!" Nick Fury dropped a bombshell right from the start, getting straight to the point.
"Impact?"
"What impact? Does it count that the citizens of New York cheered?" Lin Feng lounged lazily on the sofa.
"Good heavens, you're trying to pin this on me from the start? Do you think I'm easily scared?"
"I'm not joking with you, Lin Feng!" Nick Fury said sternly.
"Your actions last night have been placed on the desk of the White House."
"If it weren't for my intervention, you would be facing a squad of soldiers right now." Nick Fury deliberately magnified the seriousness of the issue, constantly probing Lin Feng.
"Don't try to test me with your S.H.I.E.L.D. tactics, Nick Fury," Lin Feng said impatiently, waving his hand and seeing through Fury's game.
"I'm not your prisoner, nor am I facing the army."
"May I ask what crime I have committed?" Lin Feng sneered dismissively, not taking the bait at all.
"Trying to scare me? Your methods are too low-level."
Seeing that Lin Feng wasn't falling for it, Nick Fury didn't get angry.
"Lin Feng, we are here to help you," Nick Fury continued to persuade. "Joining the Avengers Initiative will bring peace of mind to some people."
"I believe you are smart enough to know who I'm referring to." Nick Fury hinted, confident that Lin Feng would understand.
Lin Feng snorted coldly and retorted, "Why should I put them at ease?"
"This isn't a child's game of make-believe," Nick Fury said.
"You need to live, Lin Feng, this is a mutually beneficial arrangement."
"You provide them with security, and they will give you the life you desire."
Since intimidation didn't work, he resorted to a gentler approach. Nick Fury's grasp of human psychology was impeccable.
"This world is far more complex than you imagine. When future disasters strike, we must stand united!"
"Complex, disasters?" Lin Feng stared coldly at Nick Fury. There were things he had been too lazy to say before, but now he was ready to drop a bombshell on Fury.
"What's so complex? Is it the Tesseract? I doubt you've figured out what that thing truly is yet!"
"It is indeed quite complex."
He knew that S.H.I.E.L.D. was still researching the blue cube, something that humans couldn't fully comprehend.
"How do you know about the Tesseract!" Nick Fury's pupils constricted violently, a sense of crisis and confusion washing over him.
The existence of the Tesseract was a S.H.I.E.L.D. secret. How could Lin Feng know about it?
"How do I know? The disasters come from your reckless research!" Lin Feng said with amusement.
"Some things are beyond Earth's ability to contain. Taking them will invite disaster."
"You always end up creating your own problems."
"Always wise after the event. Hasn't the existence of the Kree made you realize enough?"
"Some people always like to show off, thinking everything is under your control and planned?"
Lin Feng's consecutive statements were packed with an astonishing amount of information.
Nick Fury stared intently at Lin Feng, remaining silent. He couldn't comprehend how Lin Feng knew so much.
It was completely beyond his expectations.
"I will not join S.H.I.E.L.D., nor will I join the Avengers Initiative."
"Nick Fury, you don't need to waste your effort on me."
"If those people have any objections, then let them come find me directly!"
"I don't mind treating them the same way I treated that giant monster last night!"
Lin Feng stated. Joining these organizations now would only limit him. If someone had a problem with him, then let's see whose fists were harder!
Sensing Lin Feng's resolve, Nick Fury sighed and softened his tone.
"Lin Feng, I don't know where you obtained so much classified information."
"But I still need to tell you, fists can't solve everything!"
"Some matters cannot be resolved by mere fighting."
"Since you don't want to join the Avengers Initiative, how about considering becoming our external consultant?" Nick Fury suggested, which was part of his plan.
Lin Feng was only 21 years old, and it was inevitable that he would possess youthful arrogance and pride.
Coupled with his immense power, it was natural for him to be unwilling to submit to others.
He always approached problems with simple physical solutions. However, in the adult world, using fists was often a last resort.
It was difficult to force a capable young man against his will, and Nick Fury knew this well, hence he had prepared two plans.
Lin Feng also knew that while might made right in chaotic times, in the current society, being too rigid could lead to breaking.
He was young and impetuous, but thankfully, his moral compass was sound.
After a moment of thought, Lin Feng gave his answer.
"I don't want to be controlled by anyone, Director Fury."
"I can agree to become your external consultant, as long as I'm not under your command."
"If there are any difficulties or if you need help, I can step in."
"The prerequisite is that I need to be compensated adequately!"
Lin Feng proposed a cooperative solution, avoiding direct control by S.H.I.E.L.D., which resolved many issues.
Nick Fury pondered for a long time and finally sighed.
Lin Feng's difficulty in handling was far beyond his imagination.
From the moment he entered, Lin Feng had seized the initiative with just a few sentences. He needed to rebuild his assessment of Lin Feng.
"This is all we can do for now..." Nick Fury nodded. As an external ally, it wasn't a complete loss.
"I still hope you will seriously consider it, Earth needs your abilities!" Nick Fury knew he couldn't crack this tough nut for the time being.
"I will protect the Earth in my own way, Director Fury."
"As a gesture of goodwill for our first collaboration, I suggest you check how many loopholes your S.H.I.E.L.D. has."
Lin Feng intended to drop some information to show his sincerity and also to demonstrate his strength. "What you know, I know, and what you don't know, I also know." This way, they would treat his matters more cautiously in the future!
"Loopholes? What do you mean?" Nick Fury indeed took the bait.
"Cut off one head, and two more grow back." Lin Feng calmly dropped another bombshell, his words making Nick Fury's pupils tremble!
Nick Fury leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Lin Feng again, a look of ferocity and disbelief on his face.
"That's impossible!" Hydra was supposed to have been completely wiped out. Now, Lin Feng was implying that there were Hydra operatives within S.H.I.E.L.D.?
"I have no reason to lie to you. Investigate thoroughly, Director Fury." Lin Feng shrugged indifferently.
"Otherwise, S.H.I.E.L.D. might soon become Serpent Shield!"
Nick Fury remained silent, giving Lin Feng a deep look before signaling Natasha and Coulson to leave the villa.
He needed to rush back immediately to verify this information. If it were true, S.H.I.E.L.D. would be in grave danger.
After seeing Nick Fury and his team off, Lin Feng felt utterly drained.
Finally, he could have some peace. Confronting powerful figures was truly exhausting.
More exhausting than a fight...